Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Dayne Kajewski

We got to chat with Dayne Kajewski about “Drunk Me/Meraki” and the advice he has for aspiring singers.

Has music always been a way for you to express yourself?

The first song I ever threw together was about a girl who broke my heart. She knows who she is. I was head over heels for her and losing myself in music allowed me to move on. It’s helped me grow as a person. I’ve always been the guy that wears his heart on his sleeve and music is my therapist. That therapist helped me understand the highest highs and cope with the lowest lows.

Who are some of your music inspirations?

Discovering Oasis was a real turning point. I won’t beat around the bush, I’m a fanboy and that’s totally cool. Other artists should be more open about that. Noel Gallagher’s anthemic songwriting prowess inspired me to write, and Liam’s devilish attitude and vocal performance alone makes him the greatest frontman of all time. I mean, this is the person you want posters of on your wall. 

Oasis propelled me into music, but bands like the Strokes, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and The Academic really gave me a basis of what I imagined myself sounding like. Bands like these are what drove me to perform in front of crowds for the first time and I have never looked back, even if it was just a few open mic nights.

Tell us about “Meraki.” What story are you hoping to tell through the song?

Meraki’s a love song. Plain and simple. I wrote the song about my girlfriend because she’s my source of passion and creativity. The Greek word “Meraki” means to do something with soul, creativity, or love while incorporating that into one’s work. I hope others install their own meaning to it just like I did.

“Drunk Me” and “Meraki” are about different aspects of a romantic relationship, the good and bad sides. Do you pull from personal experience when creating your music?

I don’t write to inform people of how I am feeling – I write to resonate with others. I take extensive inspiration from past relationships, current loves, and experiences. Even though one is based on personal experience and the other from events witnessed at a college party, they both reflect romantic relationships and self-discovery for what they are – an emotional rollercoaster. Love’s not always fun, we don’t always know what we want, or know who we are, but we know it when we feel it. I’m an emotional dude. I’m not afraid to be open about that. I want nothing more than to give everyone an outlet to lose themselves and relate – show them they aren’t the only one going through a toxic breakup – in love, confused, and insecure.

During the pandemic how have you been keeping yourself creatively motivated?

Thanks to social media, I’ve made a ton of friends quarantining – which is odd, but the time away let me cultivate a following on Instagram by performing covers and being myself. Eventually, I started receiving DM’s from producers and other collaborators, and through this, I met Giovanni Ventello – a producer/engineer based out of Lawrence, Kansas.  Music took a front seat for both of us and “Drunk Me / Meraki” was the result. After months of sending ideas, demos, and two-hour FaceTime calls Giovanni has become more than just my producer along for the journey. He’s become one of my friends. This last year has been difficult, but my time with Giovanni has helped me grow and stay motivated.

What advice do you have for aspiring singers?

My advice for anyone who is aspiring to sing is simple. If you want to go into music, dive in with the attitude that you’ll take it over. The music business has been around for centuries, but it has been waiting on you.